Box-fastener



JgDAvY. BOX FASTBNBR.

(No Model.)

Patented feb. e, .1894;

, surface thereof.

UNITED STATES A'rnur reich.

JOSEPH DAVY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

BOX-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,416, dated February 6, 1894.

Application filed March 29, 1893. Serial No.4.68,149. (No model.)

To afZZ whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH DAvY, of Oakland, county of Alameda, State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Box-Fasteners, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in locks and similar devices used for fastening the lids or covers of boxes, chests, trunks, cases, and other articles of same kind.

The object of my. improvement is to provide a simple, cheap, and handy fastener of the class referred to that may be quickly handied, whether used singly or in combination with padlock or seal, and may be relied on to firmly and securely hold in place the lid or cover with which it is connected.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which forms part of this specification,-Fig ure l is a perspective view of a box with my improved device` applied thereto, the same being shown in an open position. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the fastener, as it appears when used in combination with a padlock. Fig. 3 is a side elevation, looking from the right of Fig. 2, the padlock being removed; and Fig. a is a front elevation of the device with seal attachment.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate the same parts throughout the four views.

Let A representa box or case having a hinged lid or cover A', such as may be used by express companies, packers, and tradesmen generally. To the front edge of the lid A is rigidly secured a bent plate E, the ends of which extend over both the upper and under sides of the cover and project from the The lower part of this plate lits in a notch or recess ct cut into the upper edge of the box and becomes seated therein when the cover is brought down. It thus prevents the lid from moving sidewise and greatly lessons the strain to which the hinges may be subjected when handling the box or case.

C is a staple of the ordinary bow shape prof jecting outwardly from the plate B at the outer edge of the lid and run through a suitable hole in one end of a hasp D that forms part of the fastener. This staple may be therewith, or driven into the cover through the plate, or otherwise affixed thereto, as deemed best. The hasp D is slotted lengthwise and the aperture CZ so produced centrally enlarged at d to enable it to pass over the staple E and key F hereinafter described.

E and F respectively. designate a hookshaped staple and a bolt or key that are secured to and project forwardly from the face of the box. By preference, the staple E is provided with a plate F. which is countersunk in the front wall of the box, where it is held by screws e. The bolt or key F is pivotally connected therewith by means of a pin G passing through it and extending outwardly from the plate tothe outer end of the staple. Bosses f f that may be part of either the pin, the staple, or the plate, are provided in order to confine the key within proper bounds and keep it oft the box far enough to allow the hasp to lie under it.

The above-described parts constitute a complete fastener, as may be seen by reference to the drawings. For, if we take the lid of the box in the position shown at Fig. 1, bring it down and pass the hasp over the staple and the key therein, and then turn the key crosswise of the hasp, as illustrated at Figs. 2 and 3, we have the box closed and fastened as thoroughly and securely as may be effected by ordinary means. My improved fastener may therefore be used iu this way,whenever desired, for instance with boxes that are empty or contain nothing of much value. But in the case of treasure boxes, or chests containing articles to which free access is not allowable to every one handling them,a padlock H may be added to the fastening device, as represented at Fig. 2. My fastener, it will be noticed, is peculiarly adapted to receive such a lock, which may be readily inserted through the loop formed by the hookshaped staple Eand the pivoted key secured thereto. Said fastener may thus be used with or without lock7 as circumstances may require.

Besides locks, seals may also be used in( connection with my fastener, that is to say that class of devices employed to indicate whether a box or case containing valuables either riveted to the plate, or made integral has been improperly opened or tampered with. The bolt or key F, it will be observed, is Wider at one end than at the other and the thin end thereof somewhat longer than the big one, the pivot passing eccentrically through it. The key is thereby prevented from making a full turn around its pivot within the staple, the lower limb of the staple standing in the way. The hasp, which is slotted to conform with the shape of the key and staple, cannot therefore pass over them without having the wide end of the key within the staple and its narrow end upwardly projecting therefrom. If then we closeY the box, apply the fastener, and turn the key in the position shown at Fig. 4, the longer end thereof will lie close to and rest against the lower limb of the staple E, which will prevent it from moving farther inward and thereby keep the hasp from becoming unlocked. A wire or string I may then be passed around the staple and around the key through a smallnotch]E2 provided in the under side of the latter and a piece of lead or Wax J aflixed to the ends thereof in the usual way. The long end of the key being confined between the staple, on either side, and the twisted end of the wire or string, it cannot move nor can it be changed in position without the fact being indicated by the rupture of the seal. Thus my improved fastener may be used with or Without locks and with or without seals, as preferred, a great convenienee to those having to handle or ship all sorts of freight or packages widely differing in value and the handling whereof involves more or less risk.

It will be observed that my improved fastener is composed of but few parts that are easily made and put together, and so combined that it occupies little space, and yet is quite effective for the purposes in View. rlhere is nothing in itliable to get out of order and it is thought that it will aiford every possible convenience to those having to use such devices.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a box fastener, the combination of a hasp adapted to be hung on the box lid, a hook-shaped staple adapted to be secured to the box and project through the hasp, and a key pivoted under the hook of said staple and adapted to be turned across the hasp.

2. In a box fastener, the combination of a hasp adapted to be secured to the box lid, a hook-shaped staple adapted to be secured to the box and pass through the hasp, a key pivoted under the hook of said staple and having one end longer than said hook, and a seal wire adapted to fasten said longer arm of the key to the hook of the staple.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH DAVY. [L. s] Witnesses:

OHAs. T. STANLEY, I-I. CHAssAGNE. 

